Among much pomp and circumstance which involved TWO weddings, (a western ceremony plus a traditional Hindu wedding), a professing Christian, Nick Jonas, just got married to Pryanka Chopra an Indian actress, 10 years his senior, who is a practicing Hindu.

She gets up every morning, goes into a shrine, and worships not one but several statues of invented “gods”.

The bride gushed to the press: “It’s been incredible to find the commonalities between our beliefs and figuring out HOW TO BLEND THEM IN A RESPECTFUL AND MEANINGFUL WAY.”

Superficially, it SOUNDS good.

After all, ‘most everyone likes tolerance and respect, right?

And Jesus did say we are to love EVEN OUR ENEMIES, which would include those with beliefs different from our own.

Yes, we are to LOVE them (have GOOD WILL toward them).

We are NOT to MARRY them.

Marriage is a lifelong covenant (legal contract).

Marriage is THE MOST INTIMATE relationship, second only to our spiritual connection with Christ.

Do we really want to share THAT LEVEL OF INTIMACY with someone who thinks Jesus ISN’T God?

Who thinks He was only a “good moral teacher”, but NOT the Creator and ONLY SAVIOR?

Who worships false, non-existent “gods” (demons)?

Our bodies are TEMPLES OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT. Do we really want to profane God’s Temple (our body) by becoming ONE FLESH with a demon worshiper? (1 Corinthians 3:17)

NO MAN OR WOMAN –I don’t care WHO they are, WHAT they may look like, HOW “good” they are in bed, or HOW POWERFUL, HOW RICH or HOW FAMOUS – IS WORTH being DISLOYAL TO JESUS, or COMPROMISING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ETERNAL GOD and ONLY SAVIOR.

The Hindu religion, which worships multiple “gods”, is satanic to the core.

HOW can a true child of God NOT share the love and knowledge of Jesus with his or her partner for life?

HOW can a true child of God MAKE a LIFELONG COMMITMENT to a child of satan? (John 8:44)

“DO NOT BE UNEQUALLY YOKED WITH UNBELIEVERS.

For WHAT PARTNERSHIP can righteousness have with wickedness?

Or WHAT FELLOWSHIP DOES light have with darkness?

WHAT HARMONY IS THERE between Christ and Belial?

OR WHAT DOES A BELIEVER HAVE IN COMMON WITH AN UNBELIEVER?

WHAT AGREEMENT CAN EXIST BETWEENthe temple of God and idols?

For we are the temple of the living God: As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”… (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

By marrying an unbeliever Christians are making GOD A LIAR.

They are saying: “you’re wrong, God. You DON’T KNOW what you’re saying. I know better than you: There CAN be agreement and fellowship and harmony between you and satan.”

They are also PROVING that they DO NOT love Jesus with ALL THEIR HEARTS (Matthew 22:37-40)

Evidently, they love the LOST person MORE than they love Him.

I won’t even get into THE CHILDREN that may be born from such unholy union, and how there are 9 chances out of 10 that they’ll be brought up in the satanic religion, thus ENSURING THEY END UP IN HELL.

I use this particular couple AS AN EXAMPLE because they’ve been in the news lately.

But the same applies to ANY MARRIAGE between ANY CHRISTIAN and ANY non-Christian, whether they be atheists, agnostics, members of a false religion (Buddhist, Islam, Hindu, Tao, New Age, Scientology) or even members of a “Christian” CULT (Mormons, Jehovah’s Witness, Christian Science, Church of God, Adventists, etc.)

I’M JUDGING Nick by the Word of God regarding his marriage. I’m not judging Nick as to his salvation. I’ll let Jesus, who sees each and every heart, do that.

But this is not only AN ACT OF REBELLION AND BLATANT DISOBEDIENCE. It’s a recipe for disaster.

GUARANTEED.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018

IDOLATRY

Christendom is rife with idolatry.

And I’m not talking about praying before a statue.

Although that CAN be idolatrous, there’s a lot more going on that needs to be exposed.

On the other hand, if someone prays before a statue, OUT OF IGNORANCE (it’s what they were taught, and they don’t know any better) but their heart honestly seeks Jesus, WILL HE NOT HEAR THEIR PRAYER?

I AM NOT promoting praying to or in front of statues, so don’t write me any silly letters, please.

Yes, He will hear and answer.

Man sees outside. God looks AT THE HEART. (1 Samuel 16:7)

Here are two flagrant examples of idolatry among non-Catholics:

1. DENOMINATION WORSHIP

I see this constantly. When it comes down to choosing Christ or denomination, they choose the latter:

“God lied. THIS has to be true because it’s what my denomination teaches”.

Or, when you quote verbatim the Scriptures in which GOD SAYS something UNEQUIVOCALLY:

Certain preachers have moved their ministry headquarters, and there are “Christians” who have SOLD THEIR HOMES and moved to another State for the sole purpose of being physically near the preacher.

There are those who schedule their vacations and other activities around their “conferences”.

There are those who won’t believe Bible prophecy unless they hear it from certain hucksters.

Never mind that you're quoting GOD.

Never mind that they have SOLD worthless books and DVD’s full of error for years and years…

That is rampant idolatry.

Let’s get THE LOG out of our own eyes, BEFORE we try to remove A TINY SPECK out of others’. (Matthew 7:1-5)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

MORE SIN UNDER THE LAW

The Sinai Law makes us sin more, NOT less.

GOD says it does.

That, however, doesn’t stop certain religious groups from boasting about being “LESS sinful”, “more obedient”, “more consecrated”, “closer to God”, or from boasting about being “THE ONLY ONES” who “observe God’s Law”.

LIARS!!! (John 7:19)

ALL who CONTRADICT GOD are liars. (Proverbs 30:6; Romans 3:4)

LIARS are children OF SATAN, NOT of God. (John 8:44)

They can CALL THEMSELVES “Christian” ‘til their lying faces turn blue – THEY ARE NOT.

“The Law entered so that SIN WOULD ABOUND” (Romans 5:20)

Which part of “so thatsin WOULD INCREASE” don’t you understand?

Therefore, THE ONE SURE WAY TO SIN MORE is to live, or try to live, under the Sinai Law.

Chapters 2 – 7 of the Book of Romans are all about why the Sinai Law doesn’t work and cannot save.

It has never saved A SINGLE SOUL, and NEVER WILL.

Romans 7:7-10 explain HOW and WHY the Sinai Law makes us MORE SINFUL:

“What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT SIN WAS HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE LAW: For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

…THE COMMANDMENT, PRODUCED IN ME EVERY KIND OF COVETING. FOR APART FROM THE LAW, SIN WAS DEAD.

…but WHEN THE COMMANDMENT CAME, SIN SPRANG TO LIFE AND I DIED: I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.”

Can’t say it much clearer than THAT…

Those who still live under the Sinai Law DO NOT TRUST JESUS as one and only Savior and are hell-bound.

Those who ARE SAVED (right now) have received Jesus into their hearts (John 1:12; Romans 10:9), TRUST JESUS COMPLETELY, know that He ABOLISHED the Sinai Law forever (Romans 3:27-28; 10:4; Ephesians 2:15; Galatians 5:4), and welcome His Grace.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

FANATICAL

We have people who camp out on the streets all night so they can get tickets to a concert.

We have hordes who stand in line for hours on end to purchase the latest IPhone or state-of-the-art gadget.

Some silly people wouldn't miss their favorite soap opera if their life depended on it.

Others faint and fawn over some untalented "celebrity" who's famous only for making a sex video and getting tons of plastic surgery.

They go to some sporting event and aren't the least bit embarrassed to paint their faces in their favorite team's colors, wear some ridiculous multicolored wig, and make complete fools of themselves by shouting their favoritism in front of a crowd.

It seems that every Hollywood slut and crackhead has a cadre of adoring "fans", who'll go to any extreme to meet them, sleep with them, or get their autograph.

There are denominational automatons that TOTALLY WORSHIP their denomination's founder -- to the point of placing his or her word ABOVE GOD'S, without any remorse, or even an afterthought.

Not to mention that there are religious fanatics willing to blow themselves (and others) to bits over some dead guy who claimed to be a prophet.

My question to the Church in general, and so-called Christian leaders in particular, is:

WHERE ARE JESUS' FANS?

Most preachers tell their congregations or audiences that they are to be "measured" and "balanced".

In other words, don't get TOO excited.

Believe in Jesus, but DON'T go overboard.

Let me give you a synonym for "balanced" (at least in that context):

LUKEWARM.

If we CAN'T get excited about Jesus, about WHO can we get excited?

What we need is a bunch of SCALDING HOT Christ FANATICS who go TO THE EXTREME in their love and enthusiasm for Jesus.

THAT'S HOW the Early Church swallowed up the Roman Empire with all its military might:

They simply COULDN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT Jesus!

They simply COULDN'T SHUT THEM UP.

Nor could they dampen their enthusiasm, DESPITE CONSTANT threats and relentless and ruthless persecution.

It's downright embarrassing to compare them to today's religious wimps with their "measured", "religiously proper" and TEPID demeanor.

Worse, Jesus Himself said he's going TO VOMIT some of these "proper Christians" out of His Body (Revelation 3:16).

One of the reasons that the Pentecostal or Charismatic movement has spread so rapidly is that they are about THE ONLY ONES in Christendom who are "excited" and bold about Jesus.

What a pity that they've ruined their bold witness to the world through greed, deceit, manipulation, and buffoonish antics.

I don't want ANYONE following this ministry to be "balanced".

I want A BUNCH OF RADICAL FANATICS, WHO'LL GO TO THE EXTREME for Jesus:

Who'll PRAISE HIM to the extreme.

SERVE HIM to the extreme.

SEEK HIM to the extreme.

LOVE HIM to the extreme.

A bunch of BOLD, STRONG, CONFIDENT, OBSESSED Jesus EXTREMISTS who are not afraid or embarrassed to look someone in the eye and say:

"I'm a Jesus fanatic... and PROUD OF IT".

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018

GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN

In chapters 4-7 of the Book of Revelation the apostle John is taken on a tour of heaven.

Revelation 4:4 talks about 24 elders that surround God's Throne.

Revelation 4:6 talks about four living beings (cherubim) in front of God's Throne.

Revelation 4:8 says that these four beings NEVER STOP, day or night, praising God and saying:

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

And that "Whenever the living creatures GIVE GLORY, HONOR AND THANKS to Him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM who sits on the throne and WORSHIP HIM WHO LIVES FOR EVER AND EVER: They LAY THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE and say:

"YOU ARE WORTHY, our Lord and God, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER, for you created all things, and BY YOUR WILL THEY WERE CREATED AND HAVE THEIR BEING." (Revelation 4:8-11).

There's TOTAL FREEDOM in the heavenly realm.

We're NOT COERCED to do anything.

And there's CONSTANT, VOLUNTARY, UNINTERRUPTED PRAISE in heaven.

It's not that these elders or four living beings are obligated to praise and worship the Father and Jesus: it's THAT THEY CAN'T STOP.

They CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES!

They are in the Presence of Almighty God, they see His Face, see His glory, and praises just ERUPT SPONTANEOUSLY out of them.

They don't even have to try: Adoration just comes GUSHING out of them.

The same heavenly scene is described in Isaiah 6:1-4.

And THE SAME THING that happens to these elders and cherubim HAPPENS TO US when we THINK about our God and Savior, connect with Him in spirit, and praise Him from the depths of our beings.

All who feel "down", depressed, defeated, empty, bored... who feel that life "has no purpose and no meaning"...

All who face difficult circumstances...

All who need some sort of "breakthrough" in their lives or finances...

Here is THE ANSWER, THE SOLUTION TO whatever you're facing, be it some of the above, or ALL of the above:

AND START PRAISING HIM from the midst of your body (stomach and kidneys area).

I GUARANTEE, in Jesus' Name, that it won't take but a few SECONDS, at most A COUPLE OF MINUTES, before His praises BEGIN TO FLOW SPONTANEOUSLY OUT OF YOU, just like they emanate from those heavenly beings.

And if you need extra inspiration to get started, go to a quiet place and read one of the Psalms... like 16, 24, 68,103, or 106.

Here's a great spiritual secret, which SHOULDN'T BE A SECRET AT ALL, IT SHOULD BE SHOUTED FROM THE ROOF TOPS:

You simply CANNOT praise and exalt Jesus WITHOUT ELEVATING YOURSELF in the process.

It's UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE.

It CANNOT be done.

When we praise and adore Him WHO LIVES IN US, we lift Him up and, in the process, LIFT OUR OWN SPIRITS UP, and our own selves.

Praise LIFTS US UP AND OUT OF WHATEVER circumstances we are facing, I don't care WHAT they may be.

satan has NO WEAPONS -- and NO ANSWER for - SPONTANEOUS, ON-GOING SPIRITUAL PRAISE.

The creep is both HELPLESS before it...

And he's also ALLERGIC to it... (Psalms 8:2)

Praising Jesus REPELS every evil force and satanic spiritual stronghold from your life.

Instead of "fighting" satan and doing "warfare" against an enemywhom Jesus HAS ALREADY and FOREVER CONQUERED, START PRAISING GOD THIS WAY.

And watch every force of darkness, including satan himself FLEE.

Watch EVERY satanic roadblock, every obstacle, every ENEMY VANISH right before your eyes.

Praise IS THE KEY TO VICTORY in whatever situation life has thrown your way, in whatever circumstance you're facing.

STOP COMPLAINING AND START PRAISING!!!

The life of EVERY born-again Christian should be FILLED with praises for God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Not once in a while, when we're bored and have "nothing better to do".

But ON A DAILY BASIS.

We are to be CONTINUOUSLY FILLED with the Spirit praising and MAKING MELODY IN OUR HEARTS to Jesus (Ephesians 5:19).

There are TOO MANY REASONS to praise our God and Savior. Praise Him, if nothing else, BECAUSE HE, the Almighty Creator, BELONGS TO YOU.

If you're born-again, Jesus BELONGS TO YOU.

He's... EVERYTHING.

All things WERE MADE BY Him and without Him HAS NOTHING been made that was made... (John 1:1-2)

What more could ANYONE want?

Glory to Jesus, Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! For His mercies are NEW each morning. Great is His faithfulness.

From eternity to eternity He is God. There is NO GOD BESIDE HIM. There is NO SAVIOR beside Him.

Glory to the King of kings! For His Mercy endures forever. His Wisdom is never-ending.

We adore you Jesus, we praise you according to the riches of your glory in us.

Thank you for choosing us and predestining us before the foundation of the world to be your sons and heirs.

Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Praise Him, universal Church!

Praise and adore Him, Body of Christ!

Praise Him, angels of God!

Praise Him, heavenly host!

Let EVERY THING that has breath, PRAISE JESUS FOREVER!!!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018

WORLD IN TURMOIL

I don’t know about you, I don’t know if I’ve had too much anesthesia, but events in the past couple of weeks have left my head spinning:

Serious unrest in France, Russia and China trying out new sophisticated weapons that the U.S., reportedly, cannot (at the moment) counter; migrant caravans, government shut down, and President Trump’s surprising move to pull troops out of Syria.

It’s A LOT to take, not to mention process.

While I totally understand the desire to declare victory with regards to ISIS, and to bring our troops home, those troops are the only thing that stand in the way of Iran’s further penetration into the Middle East.

Iran already controls much of Syria and Lebanon. There are Russian troops in Syria. Since Russia and Iran are closely allied, Russians won’t pose any interference to whatever Iran wants to do in the region.

This gives Iran free rein to expand further into Syria, all the way to the border with Israel.

I’ll leave it to military experts to determine whether strategically it’s the right or wrong thing to do.

What I CAN tell you is that it’s the BIBLICAL thing to do.

2,500 years ago God prophesied, through Daniel, that there would be a resurgence of the Persian Empire (represented by a ram) AT THE TIME OF THE END.

It predicted that Persia (Iran) would advance to THE WEST (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon), TO THE NORTH, (Afghanistan, Turkmenistan) and TO THE SOUTH (Saudi Arabia, Yemen). (Daniel 8:4)

And that NO ONE would be able to stop it.

All of this has happened before our eyes, exactly as foretold.

This sets up the second showdown between Persia (Iran) and Greece.

Greece, represented by a goat, and led by its Antichrist will advance toward THE SOUTH (Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Iraq) toward THE EAST (Turkey) and TOWARD ISRAEL. (Daniel 8:9)

He will be unable to advance further east unless he gets Persia (Iran) out of the way. Likewise, he will block Iran’s incursion toward Israel. (Daniel 8:17, 19, 23, 26)

The two will HAVE TO confront each other. Hence the statement in Daniel 11:44 that “news out of the north and out of the east (Iran) will trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many”.

Jordan somehow manages to escape the conflict, and Iran will be defeated by the Antichrist FOR THE SECOND TIME.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2018

THE VERY BEST CHRISTMAS

Want to have THE BEST Christmas ever?

The best Christmas is NOT the one we spend with family and loved ones.

It’s NOT the one where we enjoy the most delicious food.

It’s NOT the one in which we drink the most eggnog.

It’s NOT the one in which we sing the most carols.

It’s NOT the one where we receive the most gifts.

It’s NOT the one where we attend the biggest parties.

It’s NOT the one where we display the prettiest lights.

It’s NOT the one where we put up the fanciest decorations.

It’s NOT the one where we attend religious services.

Pleasant as all these things are, and grateful for them as we may be…

THE VERY BEST Christmas is the one we SPEND WITH JESUS.

Again: THE VERY BEST Christmas is the one we SPEND WITH JESUS.

Oh, get a grip! Jesus is up in heaven, billions or trillions of miles away. There’s NO WAY I can spend Christmas with Him!

Wrong: Jesus is Omnipresent. He is EVERYWHERE. (Psalm 139:7-8)

…Including YOU, if you have received Him into your heart. (John 1:12)

Are you looking for THE BEST Christmas IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES?

When you have (or can have) THE BEST Christmas INSIDE?

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018

ONE SOLITARY LIFE

This poem was written by the late Dr. James Allan Francis (1864-1928). I love to read it, especially at Christmas. To this day, I can't read it without getting all "choked up". I've done some very minor editing, and would like to share "my version" with you.

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in still another small village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty.

Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book.

He never held an office.

He never had a family or owned a house.

He didn't go to college.

He never visited a big city.

He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born.

He never had a TV show.

He never made any movies.

He NEVER asked for money.

He didn't own great buildings.

He never had a private airplane.

He never amassed great wealth.

He didNONE OF THE THINGS one usually associates with greatness.

He had NO CREDENTIALS BUT Himself.

He was ONLY THIRTY THREE when the tide of public opinion turned against Him.

His friends ran away.

He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.

He was NAILED TO A CROSS between two thieves.

While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only property He had on earth.

When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed tomb.

TWENTY ONE CENTURIES HAVE COME AND GONE, and today He is THE CENTRAL FIGURE of the human race, and the Leader of mankind's progress.

All the armies that ever marched,

All the navies that ever sailed,

All the parliaments that ever sat,

All the kings that ever reigned put together...

...Have NOT AFFECTED THE LIFE OF MAN ON THIS EARTH, let alone FOR ALL ETERNITY, as much as THAT One Solitary Life.

Glory to the King of kings and Lord of lords! Hallelujah to the Eternal God!

Praise You, Lord Jesus! We adore you. Thank You, and Happy Birthday!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2018

MIGHTY GOD, PRINCE OF PEACE

"For UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER: AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE THERE SHALL BE NO END, upon the throne of David, and upon HIS KINGDOM, to order it, and to establish it WITH JUSTICE AND WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THIS TIME FORTH EVEN FOREVER..." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

For two millennia, Christians have seen AN UNEQUIVOCAL depiction of Jesus the Messiah in this passage.

However, traditional Judaism - which rejects Jesus -- DOES NOT.

They claim that we have "misunderstood" this passage, and that it refers to Hezekiah, former king of the Kingdom of Judah.

They base THEIR DISHONEST CLAIMS on three lame arguments:

1. The name Hezekiah which means "strength of Yahweh"

2. That there's no record (or so they say) in the New Testament that Jesus was called "wonderful", "counselor", "everlasting Father" or "prince of peace".

3. That Jesus (they say) has no kingdom on earth.

While it is true that the name Hezekiah means "strength of Yahweh" -- and while Hezekiah was a godly and benevolent king who tried his best to eradicate idolatry --Hezekiah does not REMOTELY fit the description given in Isaiah.

Hezekiah comes from two Hebrew words: chazak meaning "strong" and Yah which stands for Yahweh.

However, the words used in Isaiah 9:6 are the ENTIRELY DIFFERENT wordsel gibbor meaning, "MIGHTY God".

Had the Holy Spirit intended this for Hezekiah, He is perfectly capable of inspiring the words chazak Yah or Ḥizkiyya, instead of el gibbor.

NO ONE has EVER called Hezekiah "el gibbor" or "Mighty God". BILLIONS have called Jesus by that title, and are still doing it today.

So much for that chunk of religious hypocrisy...

Our Jewish friends are also guilty of applying a DECEITFUL, SELF-SERVING double-standard:

If they posit that Jesus was never called "Wonderful", "Counselor", "everlasting Father" or "Prince of Peace", then THE SAME criterion SHOULD BE APPLIED TO HEZEKIAH:

WHENwas Hezekiah EVER called by those titles in the Old Testament, or ANYWHERE ELSE?

Answer: NEVER.

Jesus, on the other hand, IS CALLED "Wonderful".

Matthew 21:15: "But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the WONDERFUL things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were very displeased".

John 9:30 "The man answered and said unto them: Why, THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING, that YOU DON'T KNOW FROM WHERE HE IS, AND YET HE HAS OPENED MY EYES."

"COUNSELOR":

John 14:26: "But The Counselor, The Holy Spirit-Whom the Father Will Send Him IN MY NAME--WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS and remind you OF EVERYTHING I HAVE TOLD YOU."

1 John 2:1: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, WE HAVE A COUNSELOR ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous".

MIGHTY GOD:

Jesus is called by this title TOO MANY TIMES to include the Scripture citations in this message, for A FULL LIST go here:

EVERLASTING FATHER:

John 5:18 "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also THAT GOD WAS HIS FATHER, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH God."

John 14:9: "Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long a time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? HE THAT HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER; and how say you then, Show us the Father?"

John 10:30:"I and the Father ARE ONE"

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.

PRINCE OF PEACE:

Matthew 5:9: BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: for they shall be called the children of God.

John 14:27PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Ephesians 2:14-17 "For HE IS OUR PEACE, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us...

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; to make in himself of two one new man, SO MAKING PEACE...

And came and PREACHED PEACE to you who were afar off, and to them that were near."

As we just demonstrated, traditional Jews are DEAD WRONG.

THERE CAN BE NO PRINCE OF PEACE BESIDE JESUS because, unlike conventional earthly kingdoms, which come into being through military conquest, His Kingdom has been expanding and growing, FOR 2,000 YEARS – PEACEFULLY -- WITHOUT spears, swords, armies or violence - and IS STILL GROWING!

Glory to JESUS forever!

Since the first century Jesus HAS BEEN CALLED BY EVERY ONE OF THOSE TITLES, NOT THOUSANDS BUT MILLIONS -- perhaps even BILLIONS -- OF TIMES.

Note: DO NOT confuse His Kingdom with MAN-INVENTED, “Christian” RELIGION.

His Kingdom is SPIRITUAL and, therefore, TRANSCENDS all things spawned by mortals, including RELIGION.

EVERYONE, except for a few Jewish religionists, has forgotten Hezekiah and don't even know who he was OR THAT HE EVEN EXISTED.

On the other hand, THE ENTIRE WORLD KNOWS about JESUS, and uses a calendar based on HIS BIRTH.

Furthermore, Jewish hypocrites conveniently fail to note that Matthew 4:16, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, EXPRESSLY QUOTES ISAIAH CHAPTER 9 in reference to Jesus:

"And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the seacoast, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali:

THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY Isaiah the prophet, saying,

‘The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

The people who sat in darkness saw great light..

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:13-17; Isaiah 9:1-2)).

Therefore, the Jewish premise that this passage has never been applied to Jesus is wrong -- as we've just proven beyond question -- and the assumptions on which their objections are based are BLATANTLY FALSE.

As for Jesus NOT having a kingdom, I would argue that anytime someone has over TWO BILLION ADORING subjects, encompassing EVERY NATION ON EARTH, and willing to serve and obey Him, often at the cost of THEIR OWN LIVES,He has a Kingdom.

However, there's more:

IN CONTEXT, Isaiah 9:2 says that THE GREAT LIGHT OF this "child born", of this "Son given", called "Mighty God" would "shine in Galilee".

WHEN did Hezekiah's light shine in Galilee?

NEVER!!!

In fact, it was DURING Hezekiah's reign over Judah that THE 10 NORTHERN TRIBES, including the territory of Galilee, WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE by the Assyrians.

They remain "lost" to this very day.

There'sNO WAY in heaven, hell or earth, that this could be Hezekiah.

WHEN did Hezekiah's kingdom, meet the requirement of Isaiah 9, verse 7:

"OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE THERE SHALL BE NO END?"

WHEN was Hezekiah’s kingdom established "FROM THIS TIME FORTH EVEN FOREVER" (Isaiah 9:7)?

Hezekiah's kingdom, IN FACT, ENDED in the 7th century B.C.

He has ZERO kingdom and ZERO subjects today.

HOW can his kingdom be "forever", when it ENDED in 687 B.C.?

Jesus' Kingdom, on the other hand, has lasted for 2,000 years and IS STILL GOING STRONG, ONLY TO GET STRONGER, UNTIL IT COVERS THE WHOLE EARTH, THE UNIVERSE, AND BEYOND.

JESUS - AND ONLY JESUS - meets EVERY requirement in Isaiah 9 and PERFECTLY fits its description.

Hezekiah DOES NOT.

Jesus preached the Kingdom of God. That Kingdom has been growing ever since in the hearts and minds of believers, and is about to overtake this earth.

His Kingdom HAS NO END (Luke 1:33).

The baby born in Bethlehem IS THE ONE AND ONLY Mighty God and Prince of Peace.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

SIX MONTHS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Six months before Jesus was born, around Passover, another important birth took place.

This happened to Mary’s relative Elizabeth and her husband a temple priest named Zechariah.

That child was named John, and would eventually be known as John THE BAPTIST.

He was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:15)

He came in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:17)

He came to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people to receive the Messiah. (Luke 1:16)

Elijah always comes before Messiah. (Malachi 4:5-6)

He came to turn THEIR HEARTS to the Lord their God (in other words, to Jesus). (Luke 1:16)

John announced the Good News of God’s Kingdom being near, and taught baptism (immersion in water) as an act of repentance (change of mind and heart) over sin.

This is important since the first step in receiving a Savior is acknowledging that we are sinners: THAT WE NEED SUCH SAVIOR. (Luke 5:32)

Jesus called him His messenger (His angel, same Greek word). (Luke 7:27).

Just like his miraculous birth paved the way for Jesus’ Birth, John the Baptist’s ministry prepared the way for Jesus’ Ministry.

John got to announce that God’s Kingdom was NEAR. Jesus proclaimed that God’s Kingdom IS HERE.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” (Matthew 2:1-3)

News travel fast, especially in small cities like first century Jerusalem…

And its neighboring city Bethlehem about 5 miles south.

Doubtlessly everyone in Jerusalem heard about this newborn “king of the Jews”.

And everyone in Bethlehem knew about the heavenly choir, the shepherds, the star, the wise men, the gifts, and the sukka (hut) where Jesus was born.

You’d think that some 30 years later AT LEAST SOME of these people would remember these things and figure out that Jesus was now grown up and that He was, indeed, King of Israel.

But Jerusalem and Bethlehem seemed to have forgotten.

Even His mother Mary, at times, seemed to forget some of the wondrous things she’d heard and experienced regarding her firstborn. (Mark 3:21, 31-35)

Jews had been waiting for the promised Messiah for many centuries.

HOW could this be?

Didn’t anybody care?

The only reasonable explanation is that religion clouded their judgment, as it always does.

They wanted a Messiah that would deliver them from Rome and restore the Kingdom, but they wanted a Messiah IN THEIR IMAGE, instead of God’s Image.

As is usually the case, God’s Way isn’t GOOD ENOUGH for religion.

They want to CIRCUMVENT GOD and do things THEIR way.

But this FORGOTTEN child is the virgin born Son of God, the one and only Savior and Redeemer of mankind.

He is not only King of Israel, but King OF ALL kings and Lord OF ALL Lords.

Have you FORGOTTEN about Jesus?

Do you only think about Him when Christmas rolls around?

Do you only think about the cute baby boy born in a still, star-lit night, surrounded by an angelic choir?

Have you, like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and chief priests FORGOTTEN about THE CROSS He bore for you and me, TAKING UPON HIMSELF THE SIN OF THE WORLD?

Have you FORGOTTEN that Jesus is the ONE AND ONLY Savior, and THE ONLY WAY back to the Father? (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

Jesus means nothing if we only remember Him at Christmas.

He must LIVE IN our hearts EVERY MOMENT of EVERY DAY.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2018

CHRISTMAS IS LOVE

“For God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16)

Jesus is the Incarnation of Love.

Love, the Supreme Power and Law in every realm, became flesh on that Sukkot night 2,000 years ago. (John 1:1; 1 John 4:16)

Love (Jesus) was born TO DIE:

“There’s NO GREATER LOVE than this: that one SHOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE for His friends”. (John 15:13)

And that’s exactly what Jesus did.

No one else has given His Life for you, because NO ONE LOVES LIKE JESUS.

Christmas isn’t complete, Christmas ISN’T Christmas, therefore, until we have shared that incomprehensible Love of God for His Creation.

God manifested His Supreme Love in that precious flesh and blood package called Jesus, WHO WAS BORN TO POUR OUT His Life (sinless Blood) for you, for me, and for WHOEVER will TRUST HIM COMPLETELY and receive His Gift of Salvation.

There is NO GREATER GIFT, and NO GREATER LOVE.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018

CHRISTMAS IS ADORATION

“And again, when he brings in the first-begotten into the world, He said: And LET ALL THE ANGELS of God WORSHIP (ADORE) Him.” (Hebrews 1:6)

…Although Jesus must be worshiped AT ALL TIMES…

…Although there’s no “wrong time” to worship Him…

THE CELEBRATION OF His Birth is a time particularly appropriate to do so.

Had God never incarnated as a human, our sins wouldn’t be forgiven and all of us would be unsaved and without hope.

But the Word DID BECOME flesh (praise His Name!) and we SAW His glory… (John 1:14)

The angels did, indeed, worship Him that Sukkot night in Bethlehem.

So did the shepherds.

So did John the Baptist, even in his mother’s womb.

So did Simeon and Anna.

And so did the Wise Men when they found Him on or around Hanukkah.

Do you worship Jesus frequently, as we should?

Have you adored Jesus today?

If not, there’s no better moment than RIGHT NOW.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018

CHRISTMAS IS HATE

Although most things about Christmas are enjoyable, not everything about this holiday is pleasant.

The Message of God becoming flesh can fill hearts with joy, or with fear, with love or with hate.

And so we see on that first Christmas how Herod, who was A RELIGIOUS MAN, panicked when he heard the wise men mention that the King of the Jews had been born. (Matthew 2:1-3)

Instead of rejoicing at the prospect that redemption had finally come to Israel, all he could think of is that that innocent baby boy would replace him as king and that his kingdom would be finished.

It was finished all right.

Herod’s envy led him to inquire of his scribes where Messiah would be born. And once they told him Bethlehem, to order the killing of all infants under two years old.

Herod consulted those who knew the written Word.

He KNEW, therefore, that GOD had said the King would be born in the city of David.

And yet, in HIS FRANTIC FOLLY, he tried to block GOD’S decree and PREVENT God’s Word from becoming Incarnate.

He tried foolishly to make God’s prophecy fail.

Six months later, before Passover had even arrived, Herod lied dead.

He found himself in the horrors of hell, his kingdom divided among 4 of his sons who hated him.

And, of course, it was he who failed to thwart God’s Word of prophecy.

There are many “Herods” today who, out of envy, hatred and fear act in similar barbaric fashion:

They kill the innocent, they threaten or harm the peaceful, they can’t even stand it for people to enjoy an open air market filled with Christmas goodies in Strasbourg, and they try to inflict as much pain and suffering as possible on those who love the King of the Jews, the King of Kings, and who celebrate His first Coming into this world.

They think and act like Herod. And they will END JUST LIKE HIM.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018

CHRISTMAS IS A SIGN

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give youA SIGN: THE VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Jesus’ supernatural Birth was A SIGN to Judah that God was faithfully fulfilling His Promise. (Isaiah 7:14)

It was A SIGN to the Wise Men from the east that the King of the Jews had been born. (Matthew 2:1-2)

It was A SIGN to the shepherds that a Savior, the Messiah, had been born. (Luke 2:10-17)

It was A SIGN to Simeon and Anna that the long awaited Messiah had finally arrived. (Luke 2:28-32 36-38)

It was A SIGNto ALL OF ISRAEL of His Salvation. (Luke 2:34)

That God would go to any lengths to deliver what He’d promised and to redeem His people.

Christmas is A SIGN that there are NO LIMITS for God:

That with Him ALL THINGS are possible! (Matthew 19:26)

Need something to happen in your life that SEEMS “impossible”?

Compare it to the Virgin Birth and it will seem easy.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018

CHRISTMAS IS OBEDIENCE

Trust and obedience usually go hand in hand.

Today, with 7 billion people on the planet it’s almost impossible to keep certain things from friends, relatives and nosy neighbors.

Imagine back in the first century with much fewer inhabitants and in a tiny village called Nazareth where everybody knew everybody.

With no TV, internet, Twitter, or I Phones… or any of the ways we have today of killing time.

Gossip would be constantly in everyone’s lips.

Some might ignorantly make fun of the fact that Mary had “cheated on Joseph” and become pregnant.

Who knows what he might have had to put up with…

Joseph’s obedience in the Nativity narrative is quite remarkable.

Joseph knew Jesus was not his natural son, yet did not hesitate to receive Him as his own, or to receive Mary as his wife.

He was so obedient that God found it easy to communicate with him through dreams, knowing he would act swiftly and accordingly.

And God used Joseph to protect and provide for Jesus, Mary, and their other children, at least until Jesus was old enough to take over.

May God grant us the trust of Mary and the obedience of Joseph.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

CHRISTMAS IS TRUST

Mary was somewhere between 12 and 14 years old when Gabriel appeared and announced she’d give Birth to the Messiah.

That was the age when Jewish girls were betrothed in ancient times.

Although Genesis 3:15 had already been written foretelling that the Seed OF THE WOMAN would crush the head of the serpent and of the serpent’s seed.

Although Isaiah 7:14 had already been written predicting that A VIRGIN would bear Emmanuel, God with us.

It wasn’t altogether clear in Jewish thought or doctrine that Messiah would HAVE TO be born of a virgin, as Mary’s question clearly proves:

“HOW shall this be seeing I KNOW NOT A MAN” (Luke 1:34)

Mary was very young, but she was no fool.

She knew that any woman successfully accused of fornication or adultery was to die under the Sinai Law.

She could have asked for some special assurance of protection. She could have even said “no”.

But she didn’t hesitate, not for a moment:

“Behold THE SLAVE of the Lord: be it done unto me ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD” (Luke 1:38)

Mary was not only obedient to the Divine Decree, she trusted God to handle the whole situation.

And He did.

From getting her a safe place to give birth during that busy time of pilgrimage, to providing them a house, to leading them safely to Egypt, to covering their expenses, to getting them safely back into Israel.

Jesus went through a similar experience, only much more severe, at Gethsemane. (Mark 14:36)

At some point in our Christmas (born again experience) God will ask or demand something from us that seems unfair, unreasonable, and/or extremely difficult, even dangerous.

Something we cannot accomplish or get through without His supernatural Divine intervention.

That moment will show who and what is really in our hearts.

It will show whether we REALLY TRUST God.

The fearful will waver, the trusting, by God’s Grace, will forge ahead.

After all, VOLUNTARY SLAVES don’t complain: they get with the program.

They do as they’re told.

May we all be like Mary WHEN “OUR MOMENT” COMES.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 2018

HAIL, AUNT MARY

Mary was a virgin when she conceived and gave birth to Jesus. (Luke 1:28-34)

After His Birth, Mary had children with her husband Joseph. (Matthew 1:25)

If we love the Truth (John 14::6) this great Truth should UNITE US, NOT divide us.

The "perpetual virginity" of Mary was invented in the fourth century of the Christian era.

It was then that the Christian faith was altered and transformed from INTIMATE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE LIVING CHRIST - in the very depths of our being...

...TO A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION FULL OF PAGAN RITES AND TRADITIONS.

In Luke 2:6 we are told that Mary "gave birth TO HER FIRST BORN SON."

If Mary DID NOT GIVE BIRTH TO ANY MORE CHILDREN, WHY DOESN'T the Holy Spirit say "she gave birth to her ONLY son"?

"The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When Mary his mother was betrothed to Joseph, BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:18).

The same Greek word for "CAME TOGETHER" erchomai is used in 1 Corinthians 7:5 to say that the husband and wife must cohabit sexually.

"BEFORE they CAME TOGETHER" CLEARLY INDICATES that, at some point, Mary and Joseph DID "come together" and consummate their marriage.

Matthew 1:24-25 COULD NOT BE CLEARER:

"When Joseph woke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and TOOK MARY AS HIS WIFE, and DID NOT KNOW HER (he did not have sex with her) UNTIL she gave birth to her firstborn son; and he called his name Jesus."

In an effort to deify Mary, the Roman religion does all kinds of mental gymnastics to "explain" and "ADAPT" the very clear meaning of these Scriptures - INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT - TO WHAT THEY - against all odds - WANT TO BELIEVE.

They can call it "veneration" all they want, but the sad reality, for many Catholics (though NOT for ALL) is that it's ADORATION.

When you kneel before a statue, pray to it, make supplications to it, ask it to do miracles (for the record, Mary did not perform A SINGLE MIRACLE in the Bible), pray entire rosaries and novenas to it, sing hymns to it, light candles to it, and utter words of exaltation and praise... THAT is worship. THAT is adoration, which belongs TO JESUS ALONE.

If God the Holy Spirit WANTED TO TELL US that Mary was "perpetually virgin", He would have NEVER used language like "BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER," or that Joseph "TOOK Mary as his wife", much less than he "DIDN'T HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HER UNTIL" she gave birth to Jesus.

He would have simply said:

"And Joseph NEVER KNEW HER."

But the Holy Spirit DID NOT SAY THAT -- EVER!

You can search the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and you won't find the "perpetual virginity" of Mary ANYWHERE.

In contrast, 1 Kings 1:4 tells us about King David and Abishag the Shunammite:

"And the damsel was very fair; and she was of service to the king, and ministered to him; BUT THE KING KNEW HER NOT."

Are you going to tell me that God bothered to tell us this about Abishag, a young woman whose only function was to keep David warm in his old age, and NOT about the "mother of God"?

But there is more evidence - PROVIDED by God Himself:

After the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary had sexual relations that produced four sons and AT LEAST TWO DAUGHTERS.

The names of their sons, according to the Gospels, the book of Acts and the Epistles, were James, Joseph, Simon and Judas (Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3, John 7:2-10; Acts 1:14 Galatians 1:19).

In John 2:12, the end of the wedding in Cana, Jesus "went down to Capernaum with his mother, HIS BROTHERS and his disciples."

In John 7: 2-10 JESUS' BROTHERS challenge Jesus to appear publicly on the upcoming holiday of Sukkot, because "NEITHER DID HIS BRETHREN BELIEVE IN HIM."

This only makes sense if they are ACTUAL BROTHERS.

That His "cousins" did not believe in Him is one thing. That HIS OWN BROTHERS, as this Scripture says, DID NOT believe in Him is quite another matter.

In Acts 1:14, we find THE BROTHERS of Jesus with Mary and the other disciples in the Upper Room.

In 1 Corinthians 9:5, Paul asks the rhetorical question: "We have no right to take along a believing wife, as well as the other apostles AND THE LORD'S BROTHERSand Peter?

Galatians 1:19 clearly refers to James as "the Lord's BROTHER."

Even Josephus, the Jewish historian, refers to James as the "BROTHER OF Jesus" (Antiquities, Book 20, Chapter 9, and Paragraph 1).

God says:

"BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES SHALL EVERY MATTER BE ESTABLISHED." (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1).

WE HAVE not one or two but 12 WITNESSES - INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT - that Joseph and Mary had sex, and procreated SONS AND DAUGHTERS who WERE BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JESUS:

We have to ask WHY they want us to take the word "mother" LITERALLY in all these passages, but the word "brothers" is to be understood FIGURATIVELY as "cousins"?

We have to ask WHY the New Testament calls them BROTHERS (adelphos) 10 TIMES, which means "brothers" NOT cousins.

In fact, adelphos means "out of the same womb."

If they were "cousins" WHY DIDN'T the Holy Spirit EVEN ONCE, use the word anepsioiwhich STRICTLY means "cousins"? (Colossians 4:10).

FINALLY, we HAVE MARY'S OWN TESTIMONY:

The Gospel of Luke gives us details about the birth and childhood of Jesus that are not found in any other Gospel.

Roman Catholicism acknowledges that Luke OBTAINED THOSE DETAILS DIRECTLY FROM Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Luke 2:41-45 tells us that when Jesus was 12 years old they went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.

As they returned, A WHOLE DAY went by BEFORE Mary EVEN NOTICED that Jesus was not among them or their relatives.

We must ask:WHAT KIND OF MOTHER abandons her 12 year old son for A WHOLE DAY, and not even notice he is missing? (Luke 2:44)

There are ONLY THREE possibilities:

1) That Mary DIDN'T CARE about Jesus in the least.

2) That Mary CARED MORE about HER "nephews" and "nieces" than about HER OWN SON.

3) That Mary was EXTREMELY BUSY caring for her SIX younger children, born after Jesus, who were at least 6 in number.

The ONLY objective - and HONEST - ANSWER is #3.

1. Matthew 12:46 Mary and the Brothers of Jesus were outside the house where Jesus was preaching, and were calling Him.

2. AGAIN, they were together in Matthew 13:55-56

3. AGAIN together in Mark 13:55.

4. Again in John 2:12

5. And again in Acts 1:14, we find the brothers of Jesus with Mary.

THEY WERE INSEPARABLE!

ISN'T it a bit ODD that Mary WAS CONSTANTLY ACCOMPANIED BY Jesus' "cousins"?

When HER OWN 12 year old son WAS GONE FOR A WHOLE DAY, and she DIDN'T EVEN realize He was misssing?

I love my aunts, I like to spend time with them ONCE IN A WHILE, but I've never hung around them CONSTANTLY, have you?

Also, if they were at least 6 "COUSINS" they must have had OTHER AUNTS besides Mary.

HOW COME they WERE ALWAYS WITH Mary?

And why DID Mary HERSELF give this information to Luke?

If what the Roman religion says is true, then Mary was THE WORST MOTHER in the Bible.

AND THE BEST "AUNT" in history!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018

CHRISTMAS IS ETERNAL

Christmas must be EXPERIENCED.

I’m not talking about the decorations, the gifts, the carols, the cards, the pictures, or even the fun times with family and friends.

Enjoyable as these may be, they are holiday TRADITIONS, which have a beginning and an end.

But Christmas CANNOT be experienced without Christ.

Not only is He THE REASON for the Season, He’s THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING!

WithoutChrist all you got is “mas”.

The first Christmas was EXPERIENCED by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, by Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the shepherds, and the entire angelic host as they watched and sang in awe, giving glory to God over the Incarnation of His Son. (Luke 2:13-14)

It moved HEAVEN AND EARTH.

It changed human Destiny forever.

And so does every Christmas that has been experienced since.

Christmas is EXPERIENCING THE BIRTH OF GOD’S SON, GOD’S CHRIST, IN US.